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“Yeah?” Tim said as he answered his phone, he was making his way out of Wayne Enterprises to get himself some lunch.
“Tim, I need you to head to Damian's school. There’s been an incident of some sort involving your brother and i’m stuck in a meeting. I tried calling dick, but he doesn’t know how long it will take him." Bruce said exasperated into the phone.
“Ok sure, I'm going out to lunch now anyway. And had reports to deal with after." Tim dug out his keys and headed for the parking garage. “Do we know what kind of incident?”
“The administrator said he had an altercation at school and is also lying to staff to avoid consequences.” Bruce said wearily. “The meeting’s getting started again. I have to go. Do you have this covered?”
“I’ve got it bruce. Later.” Tim hung up on him as he climbed into his car. And headed for gotham heights.
****************************************************
Tim blinked as he stared at the young boy sitting in the school office disciplinary seats, arms angrily crossed and a recognizable pout on a familiar yet not familiar face. “You are not Damian. '' is all Tim could bring himself to say.
The kid looked up at him throwing up his arms in exclamation with his words. “Thank you! Now will you please explain that to mr. Gorcherosk? Because I've been telling him that’s not my name but he keeps calling me a liar! I don’t even know who Damian is, or why so many people here call me that.”
“Yes.” Tim answered. “What is your name? So they can check the computers for your parental contacts? Or did you do that already?”
“He took my phone. And my mom’s out of town. Uncle Waylon's on my list of emergency contacts though. He’s watching me. Name’s danny.”
“How about a full name for the inept administrator.”
“Danny James Kyle.”
“I’ll get this sorted out in no time Danniel.”
“Danny!” the kid responded strongly. His hands wrapped around the chair arms tightly.
“Sorry, danny. I’ll get this sorted out really quick. Sit tight.” with that Tim opened the door to the office to find the secretary and mr. Gorcherosk.
“Ah Mr. Drake-Wayne, i was hoping to be meeting with mr. Wayne today to deal with Damian's disciplinary issues, but no matter. I finally caught Damian in another altercation with mr. byron. Sebastian is in the nurse's office with bruised, possibly cracked knuckles. As you know we do not tolerate fighting here at gotham academy. And our rules on student conduct about lying to staff and administration are very clear.”
“What are you claiming he lied about?” Tim asked, cutting the older man off.
“He lied about his identity. Tried to get his misdeeds attributed to another student.”
“And who would that student be?” Tim asked, bored with this man already. Sebastian Byron had tried throwing his weight around with Damian several times through the school years. Danny didn’t have any bruises but if Byron’s son’s only injuries were to his own hand, he was going to put money on him being the one to swing on the kid. Tim took the time during the man’s rant to text Dick and tell him he better get to Damian's school pronto.
“A Daniel Kyle.”
“Yeah maybe you should look that student up then. Because the kid in the hall isn’t Damian wayne. And I can't even begin to tell you how lucky you are that Bruce isn’t the one who showed up here.” Tim countered. He stared down the man daring him to argue with a single raised brow as the older man pursed his lips. They had a few minute long stare off till he conceded. Asking the secretary to look up the student. Tim took great joy in watching their eyebrows creep up as they probably pulled up the emergency contacts.
“Oh, oh no.” the secretary said pointing at the screen. Tim caught the reflection of it in her glasses, a big red notation that Danny was not to be classed with any of the Wayne children. Nor to attend any presentations by Bruce Wayne. That explains how the kid got past them for a few months into the school season.
“May i?'' Tim asked not waiting to turn the screen sideways to look at it with them. Tim was rather thankful for it being him here, but this idiot might just need guarding to keep his head for this. He knows what names they recognized, and there was one there he wasn’t expecting though it was on the bottom, oswald cobblepot. Yeah no. Danny was going to be taking a day trip with him and hopefully Dick if he gets his ass here. “Ah that must be the uncle waylon he mentioned his mom was out of town and that is who he is staying with at the moment.” Tim pointed to the name. “Waylon Jones, huh isn’t that killer croc's name? And no wonder they don’t want him in any classes with my little brother. Probably worried they’d be confused each other.'' Tim stared at Mr. Gorcherosk again. “So how exactly did this fight go down?”
“Well mr. Byron said damian…”
“Danny.”
“Attacked him in the hallway and when he went to defend himself, Danny,” the name said with some contempt. “Struck his hand with the locker door.”
“Do you have it on camera?”
“No, there seems to have been an issue with them at the moment. But Damian has been picking fights with Sebastian for some time and I just happened to catch this one.”
“And it wasn’t even Damian. So are you sure you have your facts straight? Did you even ask Danny what happened? After ignoring him when he was telling you his name you didn’t want to believe it. He’s a whole head shorter, 40 lbs lighter and paler than my brother by the way." Tim pointed at the info on the screen. “And younger. And if sebastian bryon is the only one with injuries to his fist like that. He probably missed the swing and hit the locker.'' Tim turned his head to the office door calling out loudly. “Hey danny can you come in here please?”
The door opened and the kid who looked like one of his brothers came in slowly but shut the door behind him. “Yeah?”
“Please tell mr. Gorcherosk what happened in the hallway." Tim said while staring down the teacher.
“Uh the blonde with the attitude grabbed me in the hallway while i was getting my books. Called me someone named wayne. And he was turning me around while swinging at my head, i dodged, he hit the locker and then mr. Gorcherosk started yelling from down the hall and brought us to the office before blondey got sent to the nurse.”
“Thank you.” Tim said. “Now go get your stuff. You are off the rest of the day of school.”
Danny looked at him then looked to the teacher and secretary who nodded and he went to go do that.
Tim turned his attention back on the school staffers. “Alright, you have enough for your report. So now I'm going to do you a favor. You are going to give me his phone and sign him out to me.”
“We can’t do that.” the secretary started to argue.
“Oh, but you can, because if you don’t, I'll have reporters down here faster than you blink looking into the poor handling of the school for bullying and handling of student records and confidentiality. And then you can call his family contacts. Which seem to start with harley quinn and poison ivy, to killer croc and the penguin. And you can explain to them how you broke this big bright red rule right here.” he pointed to the notation again. “I think you’re best interests and his says you release him to me. Now.'' Tim held out his hand for the phone. The secretary pulled out a key on a lanyard to unlock her drawer and pull out the weirdest looking phone Tim had ever seen, but it was placed in his open hand. Mr Gorcherosk grumbled but he did get the sign out and passed it to tim who filled it out and he glared at the teacher until he signed the field for administrator. Tim was going to make sure there was a paper trail on this one. Good for blackmail.
“Ok i have my stuff.” Danny said coming back into the office looking confused but with a book bag with a skateboard on it.
“Have you ate lunch yet danny?” Tim asked.
“No, not yet. That’s supposed to be this period. I have the last lunch period." Danny replied.
“Well for all the confusion i’m going to take you out to lunch ok. My name is tim drake-wayne. I’m Damian Wayne's brother. Where would you like to go? My treat.” Tim said, coming up beside him.
“Is that ok?” Danny asked, confused looking at the staff for verification.
“Yes, the Waynes are very kind people, they do alot for students at the school here. Sorry for all the trouble mr. kyle.” the secretary said with a nod and strained grin.
“Ok.” Danny said with a shrug looking to tim. “I guess lead the way? I’ll eat pretty much anything.”
“What do you want to eat though?” Tim asked, opening the door and leading him out. With too much ease. God this really was schrodinger. Tim was getting a coffee wherever they went.
“Burgers sound good.” Danny said. He looked over when Tim's phone gave a vibration alert. Tim sent dick a string of emoji’s he hoped really got the point across at the urgency of his request along with the address of the bat burger he was going to take the kid to. One closer to work and dick in bludhaven. “Here.” Tim passed the kid his phone back with a tracker now in it. “You should probably let whoever picks you up know you aren't at school.”
“I don't get picked up. I usually walk and take public transportation.” Danny answered but typed away at his phone, to uncle waylon. Incident at school, kicked out for the day. Some rich dude taking me to get lunch.
Waylon typed back, wth kid? Who?
“What's your last name again tim? My uncle wants to know who I'm with?” Danny asked.
“Tim drake-wayne. You can pop it into Google and a picture will come up too.” Tim said, opening the back door of his car. “You are kind of small. Not sure you should sit in the front seat with the airbag.”
Danny for his part just shrugged, hit send on his phone and threw his backpack into the back and climbed in. Tim shut the door behind before climbing into the driver's seat. Was he happy that went easy yes, but oh my god he was an internal freak out at how easy that was. They are so lucky other rogues don't just lure the kid off with candy. He was going to make this probably B baby if not clone child a stranger danger powerpoint. Today. Fuck reports. “Your uncle ok with it?”
“Yeah he wants me to check in when we get to the restaurant.” Danny was buckled in and sitting looking out the window.
“Ok well you said burgers, so I'm going to take you to my favorite bat burger. It's the one they do all the testing at before it goes out to other locations and has the wifi and charging stations.”
“Sounds fancy and rich neighborhood.”
“Pretty much. Also my older brother is going to meet us there. I was on my way to lunch with him when I got the call to come to the school.”
“Are You like your little brother's guardian?” Danny asked suddenly.
“No, our dad was just stuck in a meeting. And I was the closest available adult.”
“You don’t look very adult. You look like a teenager.”
Tim raised a brow at him in the mirror. “Really short stack?”
“I'm not claiming to be an adult.” Danny shrugged.
“I'm 20. You can Google me.” Said with a head shake. “I got Bluetooth.” Tim pointed to the radio. “Traffic is kinda bad on the bridge if you want to put on your tunes.”
“You are going to trust a complete stranger with your ears?”
“You trusted a complete stranger with your life on the offer of food. I think I can sacrifice my ears as a reassurance. Plus you can't be worse than my older brother and his bubblegum pop karaoke.” Tim ribbed the kid a little.
“Oh?” Tim caught the look of challenge accepted. The kids grin just that little edge of sharpness. The eyes though were just like Bruce's when he was grinning but holding his mouth straight so as not to give it all away when he was screwing with the league. And the dash computer lit up as danny connected to it without breaking eye contact in the mirror. Pumped up kicks started blasting out his speakers.
“I don't know how anyone confused you for damian.” Is all tim said, putting his attention on the road. Danny cackling in the back seat. But much more relaxed like he is when on the rooftops with them. Tim let out a heavy sigh when Danny started singing and dancing along. God dick was going to get along with him way too much.
**********************
“Who's your new friend there, tim?” Dick asked outside the bat burger, handing Tim a coffee from his favorite shop, all smiles. Oh tim was going to murder dick. That bastard.
“HI, I'm Danny the highschooler your brother kidnapped.” Danny held his hand out for a shake.
“It's not kidnapping if you come willingly. For food. “ Tim shot back with only a little heat on the last bit.
Danny shrugged. “You did threaten the staff and bribed me to go with you.”
“And you still came with me?!” Tim ignored dicks snickering.
“Free food is free food. Don't know what to tell ya.” Danny walked towards the door holding it open for the older men.
“Did you really threaten them?” Dick asked, walking in holding the door above Danny's head so he could walk in.
“That asshole has had it for Damian for years. So much he couldn't even get the right kid!” Tim defended.
“Thanks by the way.” Danny said as Tim came through the door. “You didn't have to defend me. Could have just corrected the mix up and left me to deal with the rest.”
“But it was so obvious you didn't fight. I couldn't just let them put a bunch of trumped up b.s. on an obviously innocent kid.” Tim said.
“Yeah, but it wasn't your problem, and adults don't usually stick up for me, even when I'm right. So thanks.” Danny said with a genuine, not smug or plotting smile. “What's your name tall dark, and doesn't question his younger sibling kidnapping kids?”
“Sorry, my names dick. It's very nice to meet you danny.”
“Like on purpose?” Danny asked, nose scrunched.
“Yes on purpose. He has a very dated name; it comes with a very dated nickname.” Tim responded first.
“Are You like super old or something?” Danny asked as the 3 got in line. Eyeing dick up to scrutinize his appearance.
“No! I'm not even 30 yet. Don't pick on me. We just met.” dick pouted. “What kind of first impression is that?”
“A honest one?” Danny said with a grin.
“He tried to threaten me with his Playlist.” Tim added. Texting away to dick since Danny was in front of them. You have some explaining to do. He sent dick.
Don't tell bruce. Is what dick sent back. Tim side eyed him.
“Intimidate actually.” Danny corrected. “Got to make sure the weird rich guy who bribes kids doesn't try anything.”
“You still got in my car!” Tim pointed out with a bit of frustration.
“I can take care of myself.” Danny shrugged again. Turning to check out the test menu in front of them. Tim saw dick mouth wow. He texted to dick, he's so going to be kidnapped again. For a robin meal.
“Order whatever you like danny. “ Dick said. “Don't worry about the price.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Tim answered sincerely. Danny ordered a meal off the test menu and then one off the standard. Dick got his usual gut bomb, and Tim decided to go a little lighter and went for the vegetarian burger. The three made their way to a back corner table that the birds tended to gravitate too. Gives them good sight lines off the entire place. Danny tossed his back pack into the booth with dick. And but chose to sit next to Tim in his booth. Even taking the inner side. Which just frustrated Tim even more. Which he knew dick noticed and made him more annoyed. Tim was already mentally writing the rant he was going to bestow on Selina and Jason for Danny's lack of self preservation skills, never mind the rest of the bullshit.
Danny had a pen in hand as he ate his first sandwich, the test meal, taking great care to fill it out neatly while chewing the food slowly. Dick grinning stupidly at him while he did so. Tim had plugged in his laptop and began at least working on his reports while he ate and answered easy emails. Tim tuned out both of them when dick started asking about his critique. Till he picked up a tone of panic.
“What are you doing?” Tim asks once he has taken in that dick and Danny both have their hands on the fry box that has a literal bite taken out of it.
“Eating.” Danny answered like they were the crazy ones.
“There is no reason to eat the garbage. If you’re still hungry I will buy as many meals as you want to not eat this.” Dick bargained with the teenager.
“But that's such a waste, it has like all the grease and seasoning on it.”
“It's trash.” Tim said, staring and trying to just comprehend the argument happening.
“It's only trash if it makes it to the can.”
“No, please, I'm begging you, no.” dick increased his grip on the cardboard and snatched the rest of the kid's tray of trash away from him.
“I don't care what it costs, what do you want to just not.” Tim asked getting up and taking all their trash off the table
“Ugh why does everyone but aunt Pam and Harley freak out about not wasting food.” Danny released the cardboard container, dick being extra quick to put it with the rest of the trash in Tim's hands. “I guess 3 more meals. I don't care what they are.”
“I bet you don't.” Tim said. “Didn’t realize, I'll eat anything, was literal.” Tim dropped off the trash and got back in line.
Tim realized he was going to need to plan meals better after Danny popped the entire container of sauce in his mouth after his last nugget before he or dick could stop him with a satisfied grin. Dick looked distraught, but Tim just glared at Danny knowing it was intentional to get a rise out of them.
“How are you alive?” Tim asked before he thought about it. He regretted it immediately.
“I'm dead inside.” Danny said with that same self satisfied grin he did as schrodinger.
Tim didn’t need to check his phone to know dick was telling him he walked into that one. “This is Gotham kid, everyone is, you're not special.”
Danny just cackled like one of Harley's hyenas. Dick was trying to hide his grin by drinking his soda.
“So where do you live danny? We can drop you off at home?” Dick said getting up with Danny's bag in one hand a tray of trash in the other held way above Danny's reach. And to Tim's utter disbelief Danny rattled off the address like it was nothing. He did warn them it was in crime alley and they might get mugged or car jacked.
Dick handed Danny his back pack as they walked back to his car. Danny hoped in The back easily. Dick taking shotgun, arguing with Danny who gets to control the radio. But dick can't get his phone to connect before Danny’s does and then can't seem to disconnect it. And danny proceeds to play a mix of rap and heavy metal belting out lyrics dick doesn't seem to know so he is saved from that torture but he tries to dance along. It wasn’t long till they were parked in front of the apartment building that Danny indicated was where they all lived. The siren’s hideout. That they had been trying to find for months. Croc was outside when they pulled up. Eyeing them and the car as Danny thanked them for the ride, food, and school problems. Tim responded on auto pilot. Waving bye to Danny from where he had climbed croc to do so as they drove off. Tim brought the car to a parking spot once they were in a safer neighborhood. He sat his head against the steering wheel and screamed. White knuckling the wheel and head banging without hitting the steering wheel.
“Yeah.” Dick said from the passenger seat. The car was blissfully silent for a whole minute, before Tim turned and started wailing on dick as he tried to protect his head and catch Tim's fists.
“You fucking asshole!”